Container



June 1, 1965 B. SOLOMON 3,186,591

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 3, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ,Ben amzm Solomon BY ma ATTORNEY June 1, 1965 a. SOLOMON 3,186,591

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 3. 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ,Ben amzn soiomon/ J BY MM 13 ATTORNEY- June 1, 1965 SOLOMON 3,186,591

CONTAINER v 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Beyazguz Solomon ATTORNEY United States Patent ration of New York Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 342,024 Claims. (Cl. 221-260) This invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container or box for holding a plurality of articles, the box having integrally formed therewith dispensing mechanism for expelling the articles one at a time.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a dispenser box for articles, such as gum balls, candy, pills, lozenges or the like, including novel, integrally formed dispenser mechanism functioning to prevent the contents of the box from flowing freely through an aperture formed in the box, whereby waste from accidental spilling of the contents of the box is prevented.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro vide a disposable dispenser box or container having an opening through which the contents may be forcibly expelled.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a container of the type described whereby articles may be serially expelled through an aperture by actuation of an integral dispenser mechanism, the aperture being of a size with relation to the articles to prevent the articles from freely flowing through and thus accidentally spilling from the container.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a container of the type described wherein articles may be expelled one at a time from the container.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser container of the type described, of particular use and attractiveness in conjunction with the sale of candy, gum or the like to children, the attractiveness being engendered by the fact that the candy may be expelled with considerable force, whereby the contents may he propelled or shot from the box through a proper manipulation of the dispenser mechanism.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser container of the type described, of particular utility in conjunction with box sizes calculated to store articles in columnar relationship, portions of the dispenser mechanism functioning additionally as a means for sealing or closing the dispenser aperture.

Stilla further object of the invention is to provide a box of the type described which may be assembled through the use of a straight line gluer, whereby a single linear stripe of glue serves to close the box.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a closed box in accordance with the invention;

- FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dispensing portions of the box;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a blank forming the box of on the line 33 FIGURES 1 to 3;

FIGURES 5 to 8 are vertical sections, partially diagrammatic, showing the sequence of steps of operation of the box;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the end of the box having the dispenser mechanism in a partly assembled 391857591 Patented June 1, 1965 "ice FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a box 10, preferably of cardboard, Oak Tag, plastic or a like flexible and relatively durable material. The box, as best seen from the blank of FIGURE 4, includes side wall portions 11, 12, 13, 14 which will, in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 provide, in the folded or erected condition, a generally square structure in cross section.

The wall 14 is provided with a glue flap 15 upon which, prior to assembly, there is disposed a longitudinally extending stripe or layer 15a of cement or glue.

Walls 11 and 13 include, as extensions thereof, bottom flap forming portions 11' and 13', respectively, which in the assembled condition of the box will be bent at right angles to the sides 11 and 13, as is well known in the art. The side wall 14 is provided with a bottom flap 14', the flap 14 being provided with a tuck portion 14". Side wall 13, adjacent its upper end, is provided with a re tainer slit.13. The side wall 11, adjacent the end opposite the bottom flap 11', includes a top forming wall 11" and a closure flap 16.

Preferably integrally formed with the blank and appended to the side wall 11 there is disposed the dispenser flap 18 which is connected to the wall 11 along the line 19 which lies parallel with walls 11, 12, 13 and 14.

The box is formed by bending each of the walls 11, 12, 13, 14, with respect to each other, it being understood that to facilitate bending, the opposite or outer face (the underface not shown in FIGURE 4) along the junction lines is scored or slit longitudinally part Way through the blank material to assure accurate bending. Similarly, the flaps 11, 13' and 14 are bent at 90 in relation to the walls 11, 13 and 14, respectively. It will be understood that after the bending aforesaid, the flaps 111', '13 will lie in substantially parallel overlapping relationship. The flap 14' will outwardly lap the already overlapped flaps 11', 13', whereupon, as shown in FIGURE 1, the tuck 14", which has been bent at 90 with respect to the flap or bottom wall 14, may be sleeved between the side wall 12 and the overlapped flaps 11', 13, to complete the formation of the bottom of the box.

In the formation of the top of the box, the dispenser flap 18 is first folded upwardly on itself, as seen in FIGURES 4 and 9, along the fold line 20. The flap 18 is next bent at 90 upwardly with respect to flap 11 along fold line 19, at which point the parts will occupy substantially the positions shown in FIGURE 9. At this point, the gluing flap 15, which has previously been coated with some cementitious material, is outwardly lapped over the outer surface of side wall 11, to form a substantially tubular construction.

Next, the top of the box is formed by bending the top wall 11" at right angles to wall 11 and by bending the top tuck 16 at right angles to the top wall 11", and sleeving the top tuck through the slot 13 into the interior of the box.

In inserting the top tuck 16 into slot 13", care should be taken that the dispenser flap 18 extends outwardly so that an outer surface of said flap rides against cut away portion 14a at the upper end of side wall 14, rather than extending through the dispensing cutout 12a defined by the cut away upper end of the side wall 12.

An understanding of the formation of the upper end of the dispenser container will be facilitated by the partially assembled view, FIGURE 9. It will be understood further that while the steps of forming the top and bottom portions of the container have been independently described, certain of the steps may, and preferably are, carried out simultaneously, and in many instances the order of performance of the steps is dictated by the structure of the box. I

The formation of the top is completed by bending the flap 13 along the lines 21, 22, 23, and by tucking the free end 18' through the aperture 12a so that said flap 18 at its lower end inwardly laps the side wall 12. The position ofthe various segments 19!, 20', 21, 22' and 18' forming the fiap18,'will best be seen by reference toFIGURES wherein. it will be notedthat segment 19' lies adjacent'wall 14, segment 20' extends crosswise of the tubular box; section 21'. angles crosswise and toward the top of the tubular box; 22 lies parallel with and outwardly laps the top wall 11"of thebox' and the end seg ment 13' closes the dispenser aperture 12a andis tucked against the inner surface of side wall 12.

At some time prior to complete formation of the box, the contents are charged into the box, the contents illustrated in the embodimentsof FIGURES l to 3rcomprising spherical units or articles, such as chewing gum, candy or the like. In the embodimentof FIGURES. l'to 9, it

has been found. preferable to fill the box in. invertedposition and thereafter form thebottomof the box as a final step.

Duringstorage ofthe container,.as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 m9, the lowermost article 30a: lies against the transversely extending segmentztl' of the .fiap 18, which segment, ,for the sake of, clarity, will hereinafter be referred to also as the deflector link.

. Tousethe dispenser, the fiap .18 is grasped and the flap unfoldedfrom the position ofFIGURE 5 to the position of FIGURE6, exposing the dispenser aperture 12a. At

this position, thefiap 18 extends outwardly through a slot definedbetween the cutout portion 14a of thesidewall 14 andthe. topwall 11.. As shown in FIGURE 7, the extending portion ofthe flap 13 may be pulled rearwardly, to draw the. segment-21 outwardly through the slot and to bringthe segments 19 andlZO" into close adjacency with each. other and in parallelism withwall 14, as shown inFIGURE 7. With the segments 2il"and 21 positioned as shown in FIGURE'7, the lowermost article 39a is permittedto all and lie against the top wall 11" of the containerwhen inverted as shown in FIGURES 5 to 9.

To expel the, lowermost article 3.0a, itis merely. necessary to grasptheflap 18 and force the same inwardly in the direction of the arrow, FIGURE 8, whereupon the deflector link 20 will exert a pressure. against the said article andforce the-same,;through the dispensing aperture'lla.

It is important to note, as illustrated by the dotted'line,

FIGURE 7, that thedispensing aperture 12a, in at least one dimension, is smaller thanthe comparable dimension of the articlesto be .dispensed,,whereby the articles will 'not-fiowfreelyout through the aperture. Thus, even when the dispenser flap has been drawnoutwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 7, permitting the lowermost article 3.6a to lie adjacentthe dispensing. window or aperture 12a,

llWillbQClfifiI', in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, that the article will notfall or drop clear of the. containenuntil an inward'shifting movement of the flap 18 is effected.

Itwill be further clear. thatwith such inward shifting movement, the force exerted by the. deflector link 2% against the article 30a will cause a deformation and,

therefore, aternporary enlargement of the dispensing aperture or Window 1201, whereuponthe, articlewill be permitted; to pass through the aperture. the resilient, deformablenature of the .cardboardror Oak Tag of which the container is. preferably formed, the article will be dispensed with a snapping action as its over-- size portion passes the aperture, and depending upon-the clearances provided and the dispensing forces applied, the article may be snapped a considerable distance beyond the aperture. Thus, if desired, rather than handling the ball'gum or candy, thesame may be popped directly into the hand or mouth of the consumer, obviating the Further, due to whereupon, if desired 4 nized as particularly desirable in the case of'unwrapped comestibles such as candy or gum, or medicaments, such as cough drops, pills or :the like.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the top wall 11" forms a locating means to place the lowermost article in proper position for dispensing through the aperture. It will be readily recognized that while, in the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing aperture is defined between a side wall 12 and atop wall 11 it is equally. feasible to frame the entire assembly within one of the side walls, for instance. i

It wiil be further understood that after an article has been expelled from the container and when the parts are positioned as shown inFIGURE 8,the unit may be folded for storage by simply lapping the segments of the. flap 18 back to their initial position and tucking the innermost flap portion 18' under wall 12, whereupon the .unitis' returned to the position shown in FIGURE 5.

As a further. feature it will be recognized that after the deflector flap 2% has propelled an article 3% through'the aperture, the fiap blocks the next'article from flowing down in the container to a position adjacent the dispensing aperture and it is'only when the dispenser flap '18 is again withdrawn that another article will be permitted todr'op to dispensing position.

1 Additional embodiments ofthe' invention are shown in FlGURESllO and 11.

In FIGURE 10; the majorportions of the .boxremain the. same, with the plane of the dispenser flap 113 being disposed parallel with theplanes of a pairof opposed side walls. In this embodiment, the deflector link 12%)" is hingedly connected to pivotwvithinthe box on an axis lying parallel to the planes of the sidewalls. It will be understood that in this embodiment theffi'ap 118 forms a closure for the dispenser aperture by wrapping the same around certain of the sidewalls of the box :ratherthan over the end wall, asshown in the embodiment of FIG- URE 1. 'As in the previously described embodiment, the outermost flap 118' is tucked through the dispenser aperture 112mm form a closure for such aperture.

In the -embodiment of FIGURE 11, the flap 218 is inverted-as respects'the positioning, of theflap in the embodimentof FIGURE.lthat is, the deflectorlink 229 shifts downwardly toward the top wall 211" on the inthe, flap 218passes through-a slit which is spaced from the. top wall 211". The flapZlS .is foldedover the top end of the container, with the outermost segment-218' being tucked within the dispensing aperturezlzq in the closed position of the container:

Since the constructions shown in FIGURES IO and 11 will be readily -underst00d, it is not considered necessary to show the blank employed in forming the embodiments of these figures. Further it will be understood that'blanks of. any of anumberof forms may be employed in the fabrication of any of the embodiments .hereinbefore described.

While a structure wherein the parts areformed integrally from a single blank is to be preferred, it will be recognized that certain of the parts may be "glued togetherwithoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

. in columnar array, a combined, dispensing and sealing handling of the dispensed commodity apparatus comprisingja dispenser aperture defined by a wall. of saidbox, an integral cardboard deflector link having .one end hingedly'mountedin said boxand pivotally movable toward and away from said aperture, a dispenser fiapforming an extension of said link, a. second aperture formed in said box in spaced relation to said dispenser aperture, said flap. having portions. extend- V v i V ing outwardly and slidably through said second aperture and foldable into closing position of said dispensing aperture; I

512i In a box arranged torholda plurality of articles in columnar array, a combined dispensing and sealing apparatus comprisingia dispenser aperture defined by a wall of said box, a cardboard deflector link having *one.

end hingedly mounted in said box and pivotally movable toward and away from said aperture, a dispenser flap integral with said link and extending from the end of said link opposite said hingedly mounted end by a hinged connection parallel with said hinged mounting, a second aperture in the formof a slit formed in said box in spaced relation to said dispenser aperture, said flap having portions extending outwardly and slidably through said slit and foldable into closing position of said dispensing aperture, the walls defining said slit tightly embracing said flap to reinforce the same against buckling- I mounted in said box on a pivot line parallel with said one of said side walls spaced from said top wall and said first wall, and an elongated dispenser flap member hingedly connected to the end of said deflector link remote from said pivot line, said flap member extending outwardly through a tightly fitting slit aperture in said box adjacent said top 'wall and providing a gripper handle outside of said box whereby said link may be articulated toward and away from said window, said slit reinforcing said flap against buckling during said articulating movement.

4. An integral cardboard dispenser container adapted forceably to eject articles from the container comprising a box including a pair of spaced parallel side walls of flexible material and an end wall, a dispenser aperture hingedly mounted atone end within said box on apivot line parallel to the plane of said dispenser aperture, an

I opening formed in said box opposite said dispenser aperture, an elongated dispenser flap slidably passing through said opening and having its inner end hingedly connected to, said deflector link, said deflector flap including porsaid dispenser aperture insertable inwardly through said dispenser aperture.

5. A container and dispenser mechanism formed of i an integral folded blank for expelling individual articles one at a time comprisingan elongated box having a side wall portion, a bottom wall and atop wall, a dispenser aperture defined by said side Wall portion adjacent said top wall, said dispenser aperture having at least one dimension slightly smaller than a corresponding dimension of said articles, an extended dispenser flap member having portions within said box and an operator portion slidably extending outwardly of said box through a narrow space defined between the junction of said top wall and said side wall portion at a point in spaced relation to said dispenser aperture, said dispenser flap including a deflector link hingedly mounted within said box on a pivot line parallel with said top wall, to be shiftable toward and away from said aperture, the operdefined by one of said side walls adjacent said end wall, said dispenser aperture being of a size. relative to said articles to prevent said articles from passing therethrough without the aid of an ejecting pressure, a deflector link nected to said link along a line parallel with and spaced from said pivot line of said link, said flap being foldable into outwardly lapping position ofsaid dispenser aperture and including a tuck portion insertable through said aperture to close the latter.

References Eited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,809 12/18 Shaw 22 1-260 1,791,340 2/31 Bailey. 1,916,757' 7/33 Flach 22l260 v FOREIGN PATENTS 561,712 6/44 Great'Britain.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. IN A BOX ARRANGED TO HOLD A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES IN COLUMNAR ARRAY, A COMBINED DISPENSING AND SEALING APPARATUS COMPRISING A DISPENSER APERTURE DEFINED BY A WALL OF SAID BOX, AN INTEGRAL CARDBOARD DEFLECTOR LINK HAVING ONE END HINGEDLY MOUNTED IN SAID BOX AND PIVOTALLY MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID APERTURE, A DISPENSER FLAP FORMING AN EXTENSION OF SAID LINK, A SECOND APERTURE FORMED IN SAID BOX IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID DISPENSER APERTURE, SAID FLAP HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND SLIGHTLY THROUGH SAID SECOND APERTURE AND FOLDABLE INTO CLOSING POSITION OF SAID DISPENSING APERTURE. 